Megan and I are still following Grizzlyon wherever he is going. Grizzlyon uses a thick walking stick as he walks. His feet kind of shake the ground and most of the time he stomps as he walks. His grizzly bear feet are getting very cold and wet in the mud. But Grizzlyon has thick fur and thick paws under his feet.

Grizzlyon turns around to Megan and me.

“Why are you following me?” asks Grizzlyon as he is still walking.

I think for a moment. “We want to know are you are going,” I answer.

“I already told you, I’m going to Azent Kingdom,” answers Grizzlyon.

We are still walking in the deep wet forest. Dark clouds with thunder hover over the forest. Rain pours down on us. It is so wet that my shoes are covered with mud and so are Megan’s.

“How are you doing back there Megan?” I turn back to her.

Megan’s foot stomps into a puddle of mud. “I’m fine,” Megan mumbles.

She falls to the ground into the mud. “Just peachy!” complains Megan.

She gets back up on her feet and continues walking. Grizzlyon chops a few branches in his way. He turns around and sighs as he sees us still following him.

“You know where I’m going, so why are you following me?” Grizzlyon asks.

“We need a guide to show us and tell us what kind of world this is,” I answer.

“Where are you kids from?” Grizzlyon asks.

I feel like we cannot tell him where we are from, because he might not believe us.

“W-we are f-from our…” then a lie comes into my mind. “ A kingdom,” I say.

Grizzlyon looks confused and suspicious. He rubs his chin as he quietly moans.

“And what is your kingdom called?” asks Grizzlyon.

I now know that I have to think of another lie. “It is c-called, um.” I sigh. “I forgot what it’s called,” I lie again.

Grizzlyon rolls his eyes at me and groans.

“Are you sure mate?” asks Grizzlyon.

I cannot answer him, and neither can Megan. We both scrunch our shoulders and act like we have no clue where we are from. Grizzlyon rubs his chin again. He kneels and stares at Megan and me. Megan chuckles a little but I just stare at Grizzlyon’s face.

“You know I can tell when someone’s lying,” says Grizzlyon with a very serious face.

“H-how?” I ask.

“You were stuttering and I can sense your heart rate and it’s beating fast,” answers Grizzlyon.

Grizzlyon begins to walk again. Megan and I continue following Grizzlyon into the forest. Megan does not look happy with me after I lied to Grizzlyon.

“Why didn’t you tell him?” asks Megan.

I tilt my head to whisper in Megan’s right ear. “Megan, he’s a humanoid bear. Do you think that he would believe us?” I ask.

“After what he did for me last night, yes he will. Daniel, he saved me. The least we can do is tell him the truth about where we are from,” Megan answers.

Megan knows that Grizzlyon will believe where we are from.

I shake my head and then turn to Grizzlyon. And for some reason, he looks very familiar, like I’ve seen him before. But I can’t remember when or where. I’ve never seen him before in my life. Or at least I don’t think I have. Grizzlyon turns around to me and then looks down at his furry brown belly. He rubs it with his big paw.

“Are you staring at me?” asks Grizzlyon.

“N-no, of c-course not,” I stutter.

Grizzlyon turns his body to me. He is still rubbing his belly as he looks at me. He clears his throat and coughs a little bit.

“You’re lying again,” says Grizzlyon.

I lower my head and do not answer him. I turn to Megan and she tilts her head to Grizzlyon. I sigh and decide to tell Grizzlyon the truth.

“Ok. I’ll let you know where we’re from big guy.” I raise my head back up.

Grizzlyon pats me gently on my back and laughs very deeply. I have no idea why he is laughing. Grizzlyon slowly stops laughing and wipes his wet black bear nose.

“I know you guys are from Earth, little Earthlings,” chuckles Grizzlyon.

Megan folds her arms as she looks surprised.

“How do you know? What gave us away?” asks Megan.

I am wondering about what Grizzlyon meant. Grizzlyon clears his throat.

“Come on Earthlings. It’s not that hard to know you guys are from Earth. I mean you guys look like you were lost in the forest. And you don’t wear any clothes from this world,” says Grizzlyon.

I put my right hand onto Grizzlyon’s furry belly.

I feel like begging. “You won’t tell anyone, will you?” I ask.

Grizzlyon’s head shakes. I hug Grizzlyon and he gasps as he spreads his arms out. Megan runs to Grizzlyon and hugs him too. Grizzlyon blushes and chuckles with embarrassment.

“Ok. Too much love little ones.” Grizzlyon slowly pushes Megan and me. “Now come with me. We will find the one in charge in Azent Kingdom,” says Grizzlyon.

I look up at Grizzlyon.

“You mean we can go with you?” I ask.

Grizzlyon starts to walk into the forest.

“Let’s go, mates,” says Grizzlyon.

Megan's smile looks like she’s gloating. I roll my eyes at Megan. We walk for at least an hour. And still no sign of any kingdom. The ground is still very wet, and my feet are getting very sore. So are my legs. Megan complains as she starts to whine like a three-year-old kid. The kind that complains and gets impatient.

“Are we there yet?” whines Megan.

Grizzlyon moans and shakes his head. “We are almost there,” answers Grizzlyon.

Megan whines some more. I try not to whine or complain but just enjoy the outdoors. I turn around and notice Megan is still whining and complaining. I see something in front of her. It looks like muddy quicksand.

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“Megan, stop!” I shout.

I try to warn her but then Megan screams as she falls into the quicksand.

“Megan!” I frightfully shout.

Grizzlyon turns around and sees no sign of Megan. I run to the quicksand. I put my hand in the quicksand to try and grab Megan. But I feel nothing. I start to panic.

“Megan! Megan where are you!” I shout.

Grizzlyon runs to the muddy quicksand.

“Where’s the female?” asks Grizzlyon.

I point at the muddy quicksand. Grizzlyon takes a deep breath and dives into the quicksand. The mud makes a big splash and it covers me. I have nothing to do but sit, wait and of course...pray.

“Come on. Come on. Please,” I whisper.

I feel so impatient my hand is hitting on the ground frequently.

“Come on it has already been two minutes!” I snap.

There is still nothing, not even bubbles in the quicksand. I start to lose hope. I lower my head and feel so emotional. Then bubbles burst out of the surface of the quicksand. Megan and Grizzlyon pop out of the quicksand. Grizzlyon is covered in mud and sand. So is Megan. Grizzlyon pushes Megan onto the ground and crawls out of the sand. Megan is covered in mud and in the sand too. She pants over and over again.

“Megan!” I shout.

I hug Megan and laugh.

“Daniel why are you laughing?” asks Megan.

“Because I’m so happy that you are all right,” I answer.

I stare at Megan and she stares back at me. We both smile at each other.

“Um, Megan,” I say.

“What?” asks Megan.

“You’re covered in mud,” I say.

Megan chuckles a little. Grizzlyon stands up and walks to a pond. Megan slowly stands up and walks to the pond too. Megan and Grizzlyon both wash the mud and sand off of their bodies. Megan walks out of the pond. Grizzlyon shakes the water off of his brown fur.

“We should be heading right for Ivreall Falls, then pass Mount Arborn and finally we will be at Azent Kingdom,” says Grizzlyon.

We begin walking in the wet forest again. Megan starts to get very cold. Grizzlyon walks up to Megan and hugs her, as he’s still walking. Megan stops shivering and sighs. She now feels so warm but is still very impatient to get to Azent Kingdom.

“Are we there yet?” whines Megan.

“Do you see a kingdom?” asks Grizzlyon.

Megan lowers her head down “No,” mumbles Megan.

“Then we are not there yet. It should be about two miles until we reach Ivreall Falls. So don’t worry,” answers Grizzlyon.

I chuckle. “Oh, I’m not. I’ve walked about three miles in PE class,” I say.

Grizzlyon scratches his head. Megan walks to me and shakes her head.

“What’s PE class?” Grizzlyon asks.

“It’s something from our world, like training,” I answer.

“Right,” says Grizzlyon.

Grizzlyon stops walking and turns to us. He rubs the back of his head.

“Don’t you know where you kids are?” asks Grizzlyon.

Megan and I shake our heads. Grizzlyon walks to us and looks down at us because he is so big.

“You are in our world. But you earthlings call it the Other World.” Grizzlyon nods, then he looks up at the two suns in the sky. Megan and I look up at them too.

“Legend says that this world has been around for many years. I can’t remember how many years. But this world has been around for a really long time, maybe just as long as your world. This world is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It’s full of life, good and evil,” says Grizzlyon.

Grizzlyon stops walking and puts his right hand out to stop us from walking. He sniffs the air and his face looks very alert.

“Wait,” whispers Grizzlyon.

Megan and I both look around the woods and do not see anything.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Shh!” shooshes Grizzlyon.

Grizzlyon looks like he’s listening to whatever he’s hearing. We hear a voice shouting in the woods and it sounds rough, bold, and a bit terrified.

“You think that you can get away with this!?” shout the deep voice.

Another voice shouts to respond to the rough voice. The other voice sounds sinister and creepy

“Oh! I don’t think, I know,” says the creepy voice.

Grizzlyon, Megan, and I hear the voices. It sounds like two creatures arguing with each other.

“Who’s talking?” I whisper to Grizzlyon.

“Follow me and be quiet,” says Grizzlyon.

Grizzlyon sneaks into the woods. Megan and I follow Grizzlyon. We are tip-toeing because we’re trying to be very quiet. We hear the voices again. It’s coming from behind a big grey rock. We hide behind it. Grizzlyon peeks over to see who's arguing.

“What do you see?” I ask.

“Another Humanimal,” answers Grizzlyon.

Megan and I peek over the rock to see who Grizzlyon is staring at.

“Is that another Screaming Meanie?” asks Megan.

“It would appear so mate,” answers Grizzlyon with a growl.

The Screaming Meanie with his rotten knight armor is holding another Humanimal hostage. The Humanimal is chained up on a large tree. His arms and legs are chained in iron shackles. The Humanimals arms and legs are spread like an X. He looks like a muscular furry human-tiger with not a single cloth on him, just like Grizzlyon.

The Humanimal Tiger looks very familiar to me. I know that I have seen him before but not in person.

“Tigeron,” I whisper with a guess.

Grizzlyon turns to me with a confused face. “How did you know his name?” asks Grizzlyon.

I stare at Tigeron. “I drew him in my sleep,” I whisper.

“How can you draw someone you’ve never seen before?” asks Grizzlyon.

“I have no idea. I’m just as surprised as you are,” I answer.

Grizzlyon and I both keep quiet behind the rock with Megan. Tigeron struggles and tries to break the shackles that are attached to the two large trees. But the chains are too strong for him. The Screaming Meanie looks very impatient.

“I will ask again. Where are the Earthlings?” asks the Screaming Meanie.

Tigeron groans as he struggles some more.

“I say I don’t know what you are talking about!” shouts Tigeron.

The Screaming Meanie looks even more impatient. He hisses and turns his back then sits down. Megan hears a sound from the Screaming Meanie.

“What’s that sound?” asks Megan.

I hear it too. “I don’t know,” I say.

“It sounds like two knives sharpening together,” says Megan.

I notice the sound is coming from the Screaming Meanie. The Screaming Meanie is sharpening two small daggers. They both have skulls on their handle. The Screaming Meanie turns to Tigeron and stares into Tigeron’s green tiger eyes.

“I’ve lost my patience.” the Screaming Meanie walks to Tigeron.

Tigeron struggles, but the chains are still too strong. The Screaming Meanie pounces and charges at Tigeron. Tigeron closes his eyes tight and gasps very loudly. The Screaming Meanie does not hurt Tigeron, yet. Tigeron opens his eyes and looks down to see if there is a sword or a knife on his stomach. There isn’t. It is just a sharp dagger touching his muscular chest. Tigeron sighs in relief. The dagger is pressing on Tigeron’s furry chest as Tigeron grunts in pain with a small painful cut.

“You think that I was going to kill you that fast?” asks the Screaming Meanie.

The dagger presses harder on Tigeron’s chest. Tigeron growls in pain.

“What do you want!” roars Tigeron.

“The question has already been asked,” says the Screaming Meanie.

“You said where are the Earthlings, did you?” asks Tigeron.

“Yes!” shouts the Screaming Meanie.

The dagger presses deeper into Tigeron’s chest.

“Tell me where they are!” shouts the Screaming Meanie.

“Read my jaw! I don’t know! Now let me go!” shouts Tigeron.

“Fine!” shouts the Screaming Meanie.

The dagger begins to cut deep into Tigeron’s chest. Tigeron roars in pain.

“Then taste death!” shouts the Screaming Meanie.

Tigeron tries as hard as he can to break the shackles, but they are still too strong. Tigeron shuts his eyes tightly.

Grizzlyon, Megan, and I stare as Tigeron is suffering in pain. I cannot think of anything to save Tigeron. If we reveal ourselves to the Screaming Meanie who knows what he will do to us?

“We have to do something,” I say to Grizzlyon.

“I got this,” says Grizzlyon.

Grizzlyon aims his arrow as he pulls on his bow. Grizzlyon fires and the arrow shoots right through the Screaming Meanie’s skull head. The Screaming Meanie falls to the ground almost dead. He turns his eyes to Megan and me.

“So it’s true,” whispers the Screaming Meanie.

The Screaming Meanie closes his eyes as he lays on the ground dead. Tigeron opens his eyes and sees the dead Screaming Meanie. Tigeron’s cut on his chest still hurts a lot.

“That was close,” says Tigeron.

Grizzlyon walks to Tigeron and breaks the first chain with his ax.

“Too close,” says Grizzlyon.

Grizzlyon chops the second chain, then the third, and finally the fourth. Tigeron falls onto the ground and kneels. Megan and I are still behind the rock. Grizzlyon runs to Tigeron and places his right hand on his back.

“Are you all right?” asks Grizzlyon.

Tigeron smiles and then laughs.

“I’m free! I’m free! I can jump! I can run!” shouts Tigeron.

Megan and I feel very happy for Tigeron. Grizzlyon however looks upset and annoyed as Tigeron is whooping and laughing for joy.

“And you have been doing that since you were born. So what else is new for you?” Grizzlyon rolls his eyes.

Tigeron stop’s jumping and running. He turns to Grizzlyon. Tigeron places his hands on his hips. He licks his chops and spits.

“I have been chained up all day and all night, with no food, no water, or stretching at all,” says Tigeron

“What did that Screaming Meanie want from you anyway?” Grizzlyon asks.

Tigeron shakes his right fist and growls.

“He asked me questions that I could not answer,” answers Tigeron.

Tigeron notices Megan and me peeking over the rock that we are hiding behind.

“Who’s that?” asks Tigeron.

Grizzlyon walks in front of Tigeron and blocks him.

“Nothing!” Grizzlyon makes a serious face.

Tigeron looks on the right side of Grizzlyon. Grizzlyon blocks his way so he won’t see us. Tigeron looks on the left side, and Grizzlyon keeps blocking his way.

“What are you doing?” asks Tigeron.

Grizzlyon scrunches his shoulders. Megan and I are still behind the rock. Megan and I do not know what to do. But that human-tiger looks exactly like the picture that I drew. I know that he can be trusted because I know him, sort of. Besides we cannot hide behind this rock forever. I turn to Megan and smile at her. She smiles back, but very nervously.

“Would you like to meet the character that you’ve dreamed about?” asks Megan.

Without hesitation, I nod.